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VITCOS buses on poll duty, commuters hassled

VADODARA: Citizens using public transport to commute daily faced a tough time just before and on voting day. The district administration had requisitioned most of the buses plied by VITCOS on city roads on December 16 and 17. The buses were used to ferry security personnel as well as poll officials stationed in the city's five assembly constituencies. While voting passed smoothly, commuters had to hire autorickshaws to reach their destinations.

The district administration requisitioned 57 VITCOS buses for election duties, over and above the state transport (ST) and dozens of other private luxury buses. VITCOS has a fleet of 78 buses which ply several routes in the city. About 60 to 65 buses ply every day, while the rest go to maintenance. This is the only economical public transport option for citizens, who were forced to pay more.

"Commuters had trouble on most of the routes where VITCOS buses usually ply. Our buses were taken away on Sunday morning and Monday afternoon for election duty. The last of the buses was returned on Monday night," a VITCOS official said. He added they received several complaints from the public. tnn

Private tour operators were up in arms against the district administration for taking away their buses ahead of the election. The operators were also unhappy with the rental paid by the government for vehicles used.